Frayed Layer Gown

Description

This week is the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards deadline which means that I have been scrambling around trying to finish everything in time. Every year it’s like this, but this year I’ve had college applications to finish as well so there has been even more frantic running around than usual. Here’s a gown that I made this past week for Schoalstics and I just finished it a couple of days ago.

Lately I’ve been experimenting a lot with the grain line of fabrics. As I was playing around with the grain line I found that when it’s cut diagonally it creates a fraying effect without the fabric completely unraveling. I loved the look and texture of this technique so I wanted to create a garment that would play off of this effect. I originally also wanted to ombre dye it, but when I did a test try the color of the dye was not what I wanted.

I hand drafted the pattern using the measurements of my dress form. I wanted to create different shapes to show the movement of the frayed layers so I designed a slim fitted bodice on top, with a flared out, mermaid skirt on the bottom. The mermaid skirt was created by using the same technique that would normally go into making a circle skirt. Each layer was sewn onto the dress starting at the bottom and then working all the way up until the top. Each layer had to be measured and sewn to the skirt correctly in order for the layers to match up in the back where an invisible zipper is placed. The zipper was hand sewn to the dress along with the lining around the zipper. There is boning in the bodice for stability, and the gown is fully lined with a crinoline layer in-between the lining and the actual gown. Overall the dress took around 50 hours to make, and I used over ten yards of fabric which I got at Wal Mart for $1 a yard. I hope you like it! :)

I do not envy you cutting and sewing all those frayed layers, but the result is stunning. (my first thought seeing the dress was: I hope that she did not have to sew all those layers on herself and that it was a ready to use fabric)

1 Reply

Haha yes, thank you! Surprisingly it wasn’t too bad cutting and sewing all the layers. Overall it took around 3 days to sew the layers onto the gown. The area the took the longest was the bodice section, just because the layers had to be even and match up in the back where the zipper is. But overall it wasn’t too bad :)

1 Reply

Absolutely inspiring!! You are very talented all the time and energy you put into all that you do will truly pay off .my daughter has also been apply for colleges, CrAzy Times but ExciTinG! ;)I’m sure wherever u go u will succeed. Would love to know where u choose keep us updated! <><

1 Reply

Thank you Michelle for the sweet complements! I can mostly definitely relate to your daughter! I have been going non stop and I’m so ready to have everything finished.
In good news I’ve been accepted into two so far both with scholarships and one of them is a full ride :) I’m still waiting to hear back from some other schools though, but I will keep updating with what’s happening :)

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